Diptera as vectors of mycobacterial infections in cattle and pigs

Mycobacteria were isolated from 14 (4.5%) of 314 samples, containing 7791 a dult Diptera, which were collected in the Czech Republic and Slovakia in 19 97-2000. These flies were collected from three cattle herds with paratuberc ulosis, two pig herds with mycobacterial infections and one farm that kept both cattle and pigs and that did not have problems of mycobacterial infect ions. Mycobacterium intracellulare was isolated from Eristalis tenax Linnae us (Diptera: Syrphidae) captured from a pig herd. Mycobacterium avium ssp. avium (serotype 8) was isolated from flies of the genera Drosophila Fallen (Diptera: Drosophilidae) and Musca Linnaeus (Diptera: Muscidae) originating from a pig herd. Mycobacterium spp. were isolated from Musca spp. and Myco bacterium fortuitum was isolated from dung flies of the genus Scatophaga Me igen (Diptera: Scatophagidae), Musca spp. and Stomoxys calcitrans Linnaeus (Diptera: Muscidae) captured in the same herd, Mycobacterium scrofulaceum w as isolated from S. calcitrans from the farm with both cattle and pigs. Myc obacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis was isolated from Scatophaga spp. co llected from pastures grazed by one of the cattle herds and from Calliphora vicina Robineau-Desvoidy (Diptera: Calliphoridae) and Lucilia caesar Linna eus (Diptera: Calliphoridae) captured in a slaughterhouse, where cattle inf ected with paratuberculosis were slaughtered. Mycobacterium phlei was isola ted from flies of the genus Lucilia captured at a waste bin. These data ind icate that mycobacteria may be spread by adult flies that have been in cont act with material contaminated with these pathogens.